Dealer bias in live casino games — Debunking myths in gambling

Is it possible that casino live dealers have biases? If you have lingering doubts about this when you’re betting on live casino games, this blog will set the record straight.

Key Takeaways

• Dealer bias is a concept born from gamblers’ distrust of the casino or its game providers. It has an arbitrary definition because it’s a myth that needs to be busted. 
• Casinos and game providers comply with strict guidelines to uphold fairness. License providers are strict about this, making it virtually impossible to cheat. 

Find out what ‘dealer bias’ is and why it’s only a mere myth in online casinos.

What is ‘dealer bias’ in live casino games?

A ‘dealer bias’ is one of the most common live casino myths gamblers refer to when they perceive an unfair behaviour in a live dealer game. It generally means that the dealer may be cheating to win against the player. The dealer could be doing it intentionally or unintentionally, but gamblers don’t appreciate dealer bias either way.

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Reasons dealer bias cannot be real in online gambling

Dealer bias is loosely defined, at best, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is or what to do about it. The patterns are arbitrary and are often purely coincidental because of how gameplay loops work, even among the top table games. 

Live dealer bias is a myth, and these are the reasons why:

The inner workings of every table game

Table games are designed to be played on repeat endlessly, and every outcome is random. There are only as many possibilities as there are options available to the player. For this reason, some outcomes will be repeated, and the dealer has no control over them. That’s just the nature of the game, and it’s the terms the house and the players agree on. 

To differentiate them, here is a quick overview of how different kinds of casino games work:

• Roulette — There can only be as many outcomes as items on the wheel. Most games let you combine outcomes like inside and outside bets in European Roulette. Most custom wheels, like in Crazy Time from Evolution, also let you place multiple bets per round. With the limits, there will be repeated outcomes. 
• Cards —  One deck of cards can have a billion combinations per shuffle, but that only matters in poker. Most card games only care about card ranks (Numbers 2 to Ace) and who has the best sum of numbers on the table. The sum is further limited to 9 in baccarat or 21 in blackjack, further limiting the possible outcomes. 
• Dice — Casino games only use 6-sided dice—Craps uses two dice and Sic Bo uses three—so there’s only 2 to 12 or 3 to 18 probable outcomes. Furthermore, you can place easier bets like which side of a die will appear, and you get paid for each die that shows it on the next roll. 

One of the most common arguments supporting live casino dealer bias accusations is how these games are handled. Gamblers claim that the dealer has a technique for spinning the wheel, shuffling, or rolling the dice to get a specific outcome. That can’t be the case because these games are machine-operated with a random number generator (RNG). 

The dealers are there to curate the game, but they don’t have full control. They cast the white ball on a spinning roulette wheel, not knowing where it would land. Auto shufflers handle shuffling the decks, and the dealer simply plays the cards from the boot. Dice rolling is simpler because it’s just using a sudden thump from beneath. 

License providers audit casino games’ fairness

The most important factor in trusting a casino game with fairness is its compliance with its licenses. These are contracts that allow them to operate in certain countries with guidelines they must follow to protect their customers from fraudulent practices. 

Licenses often require casinos and game providers to welcome third-party auditors. It ensures transparency, eliminating biases when testing fairness and optimisation. Any signs of foul play can get the company in trouble and have its license revoked. That’s why you should only play at casinos and dealer games with the proper operating licenses. 

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Probable reasons that people believe in dealer bias

Every gambler is nuanced in the opinions they form, so their reasons for accusing a casino or game of live dealer bias may be unique to them. That said, they may share a common sentiment with other players, creating a trend that can be tracked. This has made it easy to name several reasons for believing that live dealer bias exists. 

Here are five reasons why people believe in dealer bias:

Love for conspiracy theories

Some people love entertaining thoughts, no matter how harmful the ideas could be to other people, businesses, or an industry. Most of the time, they do this for entertainment, not malicious reasons. Fortunately, most conspiracy theorists focus their energy on politics, not on any niche industry like gambling. 

Frustration over losing despite gut feeling

It’s easy to get a gambler’s high when you have a strong momentum from a win streak. This instills confidence that encourages players to take bigger risks than they initially planned for. Gamblers who end up losing on a confident, yet risky wager accuse the house of cheating. The accusation comes from frustration in the refusal to accept the loss. 

A bad losing streak

Frustration can also come from a continuous series of losses. This is called a ‘losing streak’ and can happen on a bad day or in a game with a high house edge. When this happens, the player can accuse live dealer casino games of bias. You can avoid losing streaks by sticking to 1:1 odds or benefit from it using negative-scaling betting systems like the Martingale. 

Alleged pattern recognition

Casino game outcomes can be repetitive because of the nature of their rules, but they are always random. Any pattern you think you see is a coincidence, not a hint of dealer bias. These are the results of their training to become better hosts. Every gesture and action may be deliberate motions, but they become habitual and turn into dealer signatures. 

Because other people said so

Word of mouth is a double-edged sword for brands and services—it’s free marketing on one hand, and it’s a source for fear-mongering on the other. Someone can claim to see dealer bias on blogs or social media, and it will reach newbie gamblers, instilling doubt in their minds. These can affect their subconscious expectations of a table game, ruining the experience. 

Tips for players to keep games fair and fun

You have the right to have doubts about service providers’ integrity, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying fun live casino dealer games. Try applying these tips to your daily gambling sessions to improve your experience:

Play only at licensed casinos with licensed providers

Gamdom and its software providers work hard to deliver a provably fair, transparent, and exciting gaming experience at all times. Licenses are renewed annually, third-party audits are welcome, and customer support is available 24/7. You can also find plenty of table game varieties on Gamdom, ensuring you have different options to try at any time. 

Manage your bankroll wisely and avoid the sunk-cost fallacy

Sunk-cost fallacy happens when you’re reluctant to change your bet or strategy because you’ve already spent so much on the same decision. The best way to avoid this is to set limits on how much you’re willing to lose. You should change your bet after spending X amount of money or losing X number of times in a row.

Switch up your betting strategy sometimes

The betting strategy adds a systematic approach to how you decide your next bet. There are plenty of them online, created by great mathematicians, but none of them are foolproof. If one strategy isn’t working after you’ve spent X amount of money already, then consider trying a different method. In doing so, you can avoid getting stuck in a losing streak. 

Do dealers cheat in live casinos?

No, dealers do not cheat in live casino table games. More accurately, they cannot cheat for several reasons. First, a casino dealer is trained to serve you, the player, and ensure you have a great time at the table. Second, the pieces of equipment used in table games are designed to be fair and random. Third, license providers strictly forbid cheating. 

There are indeed experts in sleight of hand who can cheat at a casino game, but that happens in street performances. Live casino games have systems in place to provide full transparency. That includes cameras covering every angle of the table and the dealer, and machines powered by RNG. Bias is virtually impossible in a licensed live dealer game. 

Enjoy fair and fun casino games at Gamdom

Gamdom is a highly reputable online casino partnered with the best providers in the iGaming industry. All services comply with license providers’ strict guidelines, ensuring full transparency and fairness for all gamblers. You can trust us and our games to be fair, fun, and thrilling at all times. Play now at Gamdom and win crypto prizes on winning bets. 

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